The Kirkus Prize is one of the richest literary awards in the world, with a prize of $50,000 bestowed annually to authors of fiction, nonfiction and young readers’ literature. It was created to celebrate the 81 years of discerning, thoughtful criticism Kirkus Reviews has contributed to both the publishing industry and readers at large. Books that earned the Kirkus Star with publication dates between November 1, 2015, and October 31, 2016 (see FAQ for exceptions), are automatically nominated for the 2016 Kirkus Prize, and the winners will be selected on November 3, 2016, by an esteemed panel composed of nationally respected writers and highly regarded booksellers, librarians and Kirkus critics.

KIRKUS REVIEW

The uncommon family
business of selling information to Russia proves exciting, lucrative and
remarkably misguided.

An adolescent Nathan
Nicholson didn’t believe the FBI agents who came to his door and announced that
his father had been arrested for espionage. Though he had suspicions that his
father might be a spy, he thought the charges of selling secrets to Russia must
have been a setup. Nathan grew up idolizing his dad, and even when Jim admitted
to Nathan and his siblings that the charges were true, Nathan had a hard time
believing it. Convinced there was some other explanation, he remained certain
of Jim’s good character and strove to please the father he only saw in prison
visiting rooms. After an injury resulting in an honorable discharge from the
Army, Nathan went into an emotional tailspin, leaning on his beloved father for
support. In need of money and, more importantly, a sense of direction, Nathan
agreed to make contact with Russia on his dad’s behalf, asking for money and
passing on information from Jim in return. Oregonian investigative
reporter Denson, winner of the George Polk Award, traced Nathan’s and
Jim’s stories all the way to the beginning, and he spends a good deal of the
narrative setting the scene for Nathan’s eventual willingness to betray the
country he loved at his father’s behest. The intricate portrait of Nicholson family
life makes the father-son crime feel inevitable without ever coming off as
dull. Denson puts his reporting chops to good use, packing the book with
information but never overwhelming readers and maintaining tension, interest
and momentum. Despite a confusing—but thankfully short—digression into a 2010
spy swap between Russia and the U.S., the author proves himself more than
capable of taking the leap from long-form newspaper stories to books.

Other than spies, this
book has little in common with spy thrillers, but it’s just as captivating.

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